Biosciences

Direct gamma spectrometry study was carried out within the Adenta municipality in the greater Accra Region of Ghana to ascertain a baseline radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials in borehole water at the Adenta Municipality. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in twenty boreholes were measured. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the samples ranged from0.27 ±0.05Bq/L to 1.83 ±0.55Bq/L, 0.11±0.06Bq/L to 4.29±0.27Bq/L and 1.24 ±0.16Bq/L to 28.75 ±4.82Bq/L respectively. The average activity concentration values were 0.77±0.42, 0.93±0.62 and 9.77±4.55 Bq/L respectively. The total committed annual effective doses due to intake of natural radionuclides in the borehole water was estimated to be 40.29±48.82µSv/yr, which is far below the World Health Organization recommendation limit of 100µSv/yr. However, four of the boreholes exceeded the WHO recommended limit for total committed annual effective dose. The results obtained in this study shows that some of the inhabitants in Adenta municipality were expose to a significant radiological health hazards due to drinking water from the boreholes in the municipality. The results from this study will serve as a baseline data for future research in the study area.

A slimy bloom of the marine Haptophyta, Phaeocystis globosa was newly recorded in the Gulf of Mannar, near Manapad coast during the summer season (May-June 2012). The cells were generally in colonial form, embedded with in a gelatinous matrix. The intensity of the bloom was as high 2,96,040 colonies/l. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll ‘a’ ratio varied from 138±145 ?g/l. The physical and chemical parameters including salinity, temperature, pH, nutrients and dissolved oxygen were evaluated along with Phaeocystis data. In this study, nitrite, nitrate, inorganic phosphate, ammonia was also determined as following ranges 0.454±0.544, 1.16±3.42, 6.70±13.70, and 0.13±0.36 and 5.8±23.30 ?g/l respectively. The previous report revealed that the occurrence of Phaeocystis globosa recorded in the mid-region of Arabian Sea. Therefore, the present study was proved that this is the first report on the occurrence of Phaeocystis bloom from the Gulf of Mannar waters and concluded that this species might be introduced by ballast discharge and adapted to new environments due to anthropoid influence. This newly recorded species is highly deserved for further study.

A new indoor rearing device made up of polythene sheet with bamboo framework had been fabricated and, evaluated for maintenance of leaf freshness of detached twigs of Som plant (Persea bombycina Kost) and its indoor rearing performance of early stages of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer). The device has a leaf bed platform and aeration system in one side of it. The device maintained high relative humidity while water soaked foam pads were used inside it. By keeping such foam pads inside for different periods the relative humidity inside the device could be raised conveniently. While water soaked foam pads were kept inside the device for 24 hours prior to twigs keeping and their continuous presence inside, raised the leaf moisture content dramatically to 63.094% over initial 56.233% at ‘0’ hours. After 24 hours leaf moisture content gradually decreased that became stable around its initial state throughout the rest period. As a result of almost no loss of leaf moisture, the leaf of the detached twigs of Som plant remained fresh inside the device for continuous five days. Muga silkworm larvae were reared indoor on detached twigs of Som plant in this device and 85.37% larvae of third instars were successfully released on outdoor tree. Larvae exhibited normal growth as measured by their body weight. Prevailing market rate of fabrication is also low restricting at Rs.39.00 per device. Thus, the device is found as an ideal one for early instars indoor rearing of Muga silkworm.

The zebrafish is an extremely dynamic organ in which follicles undergo asynchronous development. The oocytes of Zebrafish ovary are observed in various phases. The oocyte development of zebrafish was divided into four stages (primary growth, cortical alveolus-previtellogenic, vitellogenic and mature oocyte). Zebrafish follicles contain only a single layer of granulosa cells that are separated from the oocyte by the vitelline envelope (zona radiata). The follicular epithelium and theca of oocytes in zebrafish differentiates during the primary growth phase.Histological analysis revealed that the zona radiata is formed during the vitellogenic growth stage. Specializations associated to the outher layer of the zona radiata may be related to the egg’s adherence to the substrata. Follicular cell and oocyte cytological characteristics don’t differ from those described in other teleosts species.

Mimosa pudica is a perennial creeper. It has been found to have several medical benefits as it serves as an anti-asthmatic, Anti-convulsant, analgesic anti-diabetic and many more .In the present study the various phyto-chemicals present in Mimosa pudica were determined using phyto-chemical analysis. The well diffusion method was employed to determine the antibacterial activity of Mimosa pudica and the point inoculation method was used to determine the antifungal activity of Mimosa pudica This anti-microbial activity was tested at different concentrations of the extract. The findings showed potential anti-microbial property of extracts. Preliminary phyto-chemical analysis of the extracts was performed. A few samples were analyzed for the presence of Flavonoids by the method of UV Spectroscopy. Germination studies were performed using the aqueous extracts of Mimosa pudica .The findings showed enhanced germination in the presence of the extracts.

The functional responses of Hippodamia (Adonia) variegata, one of the species of coccinellids found in association with aphids in cotton, were investigated by exposing it to increasing densities of cotton aphids in the laboratory. The aim was to determine how Hippodamia variegata’s feeding rate changes with increasing prey density and therefore to evaluate its potential as a biological control agent for Aphis gossypii. Leaves infested with of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 individuals of A. gossypii were placed in pillboxes measuring 2cm high and 5cm in diameter. A single adult of H. variegata was placed into each pillbox and the treatments were replicated four times. These treatments were repeated using the third instar larvae of H. variegata instead of the adults. Observations were made after 3 and 6 hours of feeding. A plot of the numbers of aphids consumed against the initial numbers of aphids placed in the pillboxes showed that an increase in aphid population resulted in an exponential increase in the feeding rate of coccinellids, before the prey density of 35 aphids was reached. Above 35 aphids, further increases in prey density did not result in further increases in the number of aphids consumed by H. variegata. H. variegata therefore displayed a Type 3 functional response and this implies that this coccinellid has potential as a biological control agent for Aphis gossypii.

Seaweeds are the potential marine living resources in the world. More than 20,000 seaweeds are distributed throughout the world, of which only 221 (1.1%) are commercially utilized, which includes 145 species for food and 110 species for phycocolloid production (Sahoo, 2000). During September 2011 to March 2013, extensive field surveys were conducted to Kerala coast and a total of 137 species of seaweed were recorded. Based on the review of available literature, totally 42 species were found economically important. Of these, 29 species are edible for humans, 24 species are suitable for industrial sector to extract the phycocolloides (agar-agar, agaroids, algin, carageenans etc.), 14 species used as fodder for domestic animals, 11 species for the production of manures in the form of Seaweeds Liquid Fertilizers (SLF) and 7 species suitable for various medicinal purposes. The red seaweeds are dominant with 19 species, followed by green seaweeds with 14 species and brown seaweeds with 9 species. The rich diversity and luxuriant growth of seaweeds were recorded at Mullur Kadalapuram, Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Varkala, Edava, Thangassery, Thirumullavaram, Baypore, Thikkodi, Mahe, Ezhimala Manjeshwar and Hosabettu coasts. The presence of natural rocks, bedrocks, the artificially made cement boulders and laid stones along the coast support the growth of a large number of seaweeds.

Under most pathological conditions there is generation of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals. An increase in the antioxidant reserves of the organism can reduce oxidative stress and some of the plant-derived agents may help to reduce it. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant activity inhibition of superoxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl, reducing power assay and total antioxidant capacity. At (10-50mg/ml) concentration the S.spontaneum of 50mg/ml concentration exhibited high superoxide, nitric oxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity using vitamin E rutin and ascorbic acid as positive control. In the concentration range (1-5mg/ml) investigated, the extract demonstrated that reducing power and total antioxidant capacity were increased linearly with concentration. Collectively, our results indicate that the ethanolic root extract of S.spontaneum has the potential to scavenge free radicals and act as a good antioxidant for treating various diseases.

The activity concentrations of gross alpha, gross beta, 228Ra and 226Ra in fifteen brands of sachet water produced in Accra Metropolis of Ghana were measured. The analysis was carried out in the Alpha Spectrometry Laboratory at Radiation Protection Center of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission by using gross alpha/beta counter system to quantify the radionuclides of interest in the water samples. The investigation revealed a recorded measured activity concentration for alpha ranged from 1.28±0.04 to 8.3±0.02 mBq/L with an average concentration of 3.36±2.05 mBq/L. Beta activity concentration also ranged from 21.34±0.03 to 64.38±0.04 mBq/L with average activity of 33.69±12.23 mBq/L. The concentration values of gross - alpha and gross -beta for all the sachet water samples were below the Ghana Standard Authority and World Health Organization recommended guideline levels set for drinking water quality which is 0.1Bq/L and 1.0Bq/L, and 0.5Bq/L and 1.0Bq/L respectively. The results obtained indicated that, the inhabitants in the Accra municipality are not exposed to any significant radiological health hazard associated in drinking sachet water produced in Accra. This research would provide some useful monitoring data for establishing a regulatory limit (base –line radiometric radioactivity) on radiation in public drinking water as well as sachet water produced in Ghana, which could be used as baseline data for future studies in the study area and provide some useful data (base –line radiometric values) to be used by the regulatory authority to evaluate possible changes in the future.

The amino acid composition of the yolk and albumen of the egg of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) was determined on a dry weight basis. The total essential amino acid ranged from (g/100 g crude protein, cp): 48.0-46.1 or from 49.3-49.2 % respectively of the total amino acid. The amino acid scores showed lysine ranged from 1.27-1.31 (on provisional essential amino acid scoring pattern) and 1.21-1.24 (on suggested requirement of the essential amino acid of a pre-school child). The predicted protein efficiency ratio was 3.74-2.59, the essential amino acid index range was 1.44-1.38 and the calculated isoelectric point range was 5.69-5.48. The correlation coefficient (rxy) was positive and significant at r = 0.05 for the amino acids, amino acid scores and the isoelectric point in the two samples.